Developers showing early interest in historic East Campus at Western Michigan University

Scott Harmsen | Kalamazoo GazetteEast Hall on historic East Campus of Western Michigan University might see rejuvenation in the future. WMU officials say 11 or 12 parties have submitted letters of interest in possibly redeveloping the mostly vacant campus off Oakland Drive.

KALAMAZOO — Western Michigan University has gotten at least 11 responses from parties interested in possibly developing some part or all of its historic East Campus.

The university received 80 requests for information since the university said it would accept letters of interest. By responding by Friday, 11 parties — and maybe a 12th — said they would be at a “pre-proposal” conference on Jan. 20 to tour and examine East Campus.

“That’s a very good response rate. That’s encouraging,” said Lowell Rinker, WMU’s vice president for business and finance.

University officials said they won’t reveal the identities of the parties that have shown an interest.

The campus on Prospect Hill, off Oakland Drive, contains WMU’s first buildings.

East Campus is largely idled these days but there’s long been a desire among some community activists and others to see the campus back in use.

There’s even an organization that champions the cause, the Friends of Historic East Campus.

David S. Brose, president of FOHEC, said he’s pleased with the response rate, given the time of year and state of the economy.

Brose said, “we are extremely hopeful. We are looking forward with great anticipation” to the revitalization of the campus and “its closer integration ... with the rest of the community.”

East Campus buildings include East Hall, North Hall, West Hall and the speech and hearing center. Vandercook Hall, a residence hall nearby on Oakland Drive, also might be made available for development.

The only East Campus buildings now in use are East Hall, home of the WMU Archives and Regional History Collections, and Walwood Hall, which contains several university offices. The archives, however, are slated to move at some point in the future, leaving that part of the campus empty.

Scott Harmsen | Kalamazoo GazetteThe cupola on the top of East Hall on Western Michigan University's East Campus is illuminated again as the university receives word from developers who are interested in redeveloping the historic area of campus.

But that could change if a developer’s proposal is accepted by the university.

Officials have said they would accept proposals for any of the buildings individually or East Campus as a whole.

“One of the things we’re going to be looking for is something that is going to be compatible with the university’s image and mission,” Rinker said. “For example we wouldn’t put a big box (store) up there.”

But he said that doesn’t mean the development would have to be academically oriented.

“We just don’t want it to be something that would conflict with what we’re about,” Rinker said.

After the pre-proposal conference and tour later this month, potential developers can submit written questions about the proposal through Feb. 4.

The actual proposals for development will be due to WMU by Feb. 25.

All proposals, WMU officials said in a news release, will be held in confidence until contract awards have been made.

Meanwhile, have you noticed it?

The cupola atop East Hall is burning bright with light on East Campus. The lamp inside the cupola, which had been out for many years, was replaced this summer at the request of the Friends of Historic East Campus.

“I think it just looks wonderful,” said Christine Ballard, a member of FOHEC.

“I feel that it needs to be lit at all times and be the beacon that it once was,” she said.